One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
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Introduction |
This novel rages and rails and is written in an unusual and bizarre style. Be patient with it. |
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Table of Contents |
This unit will contain the following sections |
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Topic |
See Page |
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“How Do You Like My Buddha?“; Wolfe |
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Cuckoo’s Nest, Thought Questions |
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How to Go Over Questions in a Group |
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Cuckoo’s Nest; 1-41 |
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Cuckoo’s Nest; 41-82 |
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Cuckoo’s Nest; 83-128 |
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Cuckoo’s Nest; 129-173 |
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Cuckoo’s Nest; 174-190 |
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Cuckoo’s Nest; 190-218 |
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Cuckoo’s Nest; 218-241 |
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Cuckoo’s Nest; 241-end |
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Cuckoo’s Nest; Essays |
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Hard Rock |
F-27 |
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Cuckoo’s Nest; Solo Exam |
F-28 |
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Cuckoo’s Nest; Feedback |
F-32 |
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Challenges |
Many challenges are available for this unit. I would recommend Tom Wolfe’s book, The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test, Kesey’s Sometimes a Great Notion, or Kerouac’s On the Road or The Dharma Bums. Also, Hemingway’s short story “The Doctor and the Doctor’s Wife” is a good addition. |
How Do You Like My Buddha?
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Introduction |
Some writers will forever be identified with a time period. Kesey will forever be labeled and pigeon holed into the sixties, along with the Grateful Dead and Peter Fonda. This is one chapter from Tom Wolfe’s book, The Electric Kool Aid Acid Test. It gives a fast and ugly biography of Kesey, as well as some feel for the times. |
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Questions |
As you read the selection, answer the following questions. Use another sheet of paper. 1. Where is Kesey at the beginning of this reading? Who Is Captain Marvel? What does he have to do with Kesey? 2. What was Perry Lane like? Who lived there? What was Kesey like when he first appeared on Perry Lane? 3. What had Kesey done in College? Why was all this perfect for the Perry Laners? 4. How was Kesey a Superkid? 5. What two things did Vic Lovell introduce to Kesey? 6. What happens to Kesey on the drug trip? How did he feel the Doctor? 7. Where did Kesey see Chief Broom? How? |
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The Electric Kool Aid Acid Test, Continued
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8. How was the ward an "Anti-Cure"? 9. Why did the patients resent McMurphy? 10. How had Perry Lane changed? 11. What did Kesey and the band do when Perry Lane was to be bulldozed? 12. How does Wolfe's style show the speed with which Kesey led his life? |
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Writing |
Recently, the baby boomers have been charged with being selfish and destructive about everything that they touched. How is this true of Kesey? Or is it? Would you like to be married to Ken Kesey or have him as your father? Explain. |
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest; Thought Questions
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Introduction |
This novel is very powerful, original and controversial. It addresses many of the issues we have hit in other books, but in totally different and colorful ways. This book, and these questions, should make you mad, but heartened. |
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Questions |
Using the group, answer the following questions thoroughly. Use another sheet of paper.
1. Doing a little bit of research, why do humans laugh? How is laughter powerful? Why don’t teachers and principals want you to laugh? 2. In “Home Burial,” Robert Frost writes that “a man must be less of a man with womenfolk.” What does that quote mean? What male literary characters are less than themselves around women? Is this true of Winston Smith? Santiago? 3. Define sexuality (look it up...) What do you think is healthy sexuality? Do you think girls should be able to wear whatever they want to school? Do you think you can sexually harass someone with words? Do you think couples should be able to make out in the halls? |
How to Go Over a Homework in a Group
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Introduction |
Through much of the literature, we will go over homework in groups of three or so. Doing this, without the teacher breathing over your shoulder, makes many students uncomfortable. I go over homework this way because I want you to be responsible to someone else, other than me. If you do well, I want your friends to see it. If you do poorly, I want them to see as well. |
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Homework at Home |
Homework sheets are best done at home, during that two hour slot I recommend. My homeworks have two parts. The first part, the numbered questions, I only want you to do at night. The second part, the unnumbered, indented, follow-up questions, I would like done in class and only. Many students do all of the questions at night. Such energy is admirable, but wasted. You should do some challenges instead. I only want you to do part of the homework at home because I don't want your friends copying you in school. I want you all to think about the questions. |
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Homework in Class |
Generally, in class, we will follow this procedure. |
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Step |
Action |
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Move your desks into your three person group |
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Everyone takes out their homework |
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3 |
Everyone writes down the answers on their sheet • Note questions you either don't know or have a serious disagreement on. |
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4 |
The entire class will go over the difficult questions. |
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How to Do Homework in a Group, Continued
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Roles |
I may ask the small groups to fill two important roles. |
• Boss: She or He will be in charge of making sure the homework gets covered by the deadline I assign. She or he may also be in charge of making sure everyone does the homework.
• Scribe: He or She may do the writing for the group and there may only be one homework handed in, instead of three.
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Other Rules |
These other rules I may or may not use depending on the class. |
• Roles: I may empower the members of the group with certain powers.
• Prep School Rules: If a student forgets the homework often, I may ask that student to stay after school and do that night's homework in school.
• All for One; One for All: I may penalize the group if one of their number does not do his homework. Usually this rule is used in conjunction with Roles.
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Up Close |
During this book, I am going to introduce you to a technique called “up-close.” One night of your homework will be an up close where I ask you to find one passage that answer a certain question. In class, I will ask you to compare with your friends and to write about it. |
One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest; 1-41
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Introduction |
The first scene sets up the novel. It is an example of “in medias res” or beginning in the middle of things. • This first part of the novel takes us through the daily life of the ward and the exposition. • Be patient with your narrator, the Chief. He has had too much electroshock and drugs. |
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Up Close |
MacMurphy is the central and most interesting part of this entire novel. Find a brief passage that seems to describe him perfectly and mark it. |
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Question |
Answer the following questions fully. Use another sheet of paper.
1. How does the Chief feel about the black boys? Show an example. How do they feel about Nurse Ratched? 2. What does he see Ratched transform into? What does that say about her? How does her name show her character? What “Ratcheds” do you know in your life? 3. What is the last line of Chapter One. Paraphrase it please. What does it mean? What does that imply about the rest of the story? |
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Cuckoo’s Nest, Continued
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4. Sum up the Chief's history. How did he become deaf and dumb? What happened to him in Vietnam? 5. What is unusual about MacMurphy? How does his voice and his laughter affect the ward? How are his hands different from Hardings? 6. Describe the ward. How does McMurphy upset it? How does he establish control? 7. How has Nurse Ratched set the ward up as an anti-cure? How is the ward similar to Oceania? 8. What happens during the morning ?(generally) How does that make the inmates less than men? Why does Ratched want “docile” men? 9. What happens to you if you don't take your medicine? Medicine is a metaphor for something else. What is it? 10. What connection does the Mill have with the Ward? |
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Writing |
The Chief sees everything has metaphor. When he is bored, time creeps by, Literally. One commentator thought that this novel would make a tremendous cartoon and you can see why. Try to describe my room as if you were using the Chief’s eyes. |
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest; 41-82
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Introduction |
With McMurphy, the ward begins to change and the fundamental battle between Ratched and McMurphy looms. |
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Up Close |
Pick three or four consecutive paragraphs in the reading that seem to be the ultimate in Nurse Ratched. Mark them in your book. |
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Questions |
Answer the following questions fully, using another sheet of paper. 1. What do you suppose the fog is? Is it real? Why does the Chief need it? Are there any patients totally lost in the fog? 2. What is the hypothetical good intentions of the meeting? What is the ugly reality? How does Harding get hurt? How are these meeting similar to Two Minutes Hate or a Vigils Meeting? 3. What does Nurse Ratched do to try and intimidate McMurphy? How is he supposed to feel when she says that? How does he feel? How does McMurphy feel about his own sexuality? How does McMurphy turn the tables on her? Has anyone tried to do a similar thing to you? |
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Cuckoo’s Nest, Continued
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4. How did Old Pete avoid the controls of the Combine? What is the Combine? How has McMurphy managed to avoid the Combine? Is Santiago in the Combine? Is Obie? 5. How are the meetings like "a bunch of chickens at a peckin' party"? What is a pecking party? 6. What is the difference between a chicken and a rabbit? In other books, what characters are rabbits? What characters are chickens? When have you felt like either a chicken or a rabbit? 7. What is the bet?
8. How does Mack fool the Chief?
9. Describe what the chief sees at night. Is it true, "even if it never happened." According to his vision, what happens at the end of your time on the ward? When did Kesey write this part of the novel? |
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Writing |
Write a first person account of the meeting from Billy Bibbit’s point of view? |
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest; 83-128
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Introduction |
Ratched loses her first battle ever, and manhood is ecstatic. |
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Up Close |
People in general, like the inmates, are afraid of standing up for themselves and would rather hide in a crowd. Find a page or a selection that shows this well and mark it in your book. |
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Questions |
Answer the following questions fully. Use another sheet of paper. 1. What does Mack do early in the morning? How does he attract attention? How does he win his bet? Does Ratched assume that men are confident or uncomfortable with their sexuality? How does this bet show this? 2. How did Mack manipulate the doctor? Why does the Doctor fall for it? How is the Doctor manipulated by Ratched?
3. Does Kesey come out and tell you who is speaking through the Monopoly game? Explain. How is the Monopoly game better therapy than the talks? 4. What gets Mack really mad? Why didn’t the men do anything? Where else (in what other books) have we seen activity like this? |
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Cuckoo’s Nest, Continued
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5. What does Mack teach them in the Tub room? Does it work? One critic has said that the men “hate” McMurphy. Why might this event show this? What does McMurphy force them to do? 6. What will happen if the Chief lost himself in the fog? How does Mack bring the Chief back? What unusual thing happens to the Chief when Mac brings him back? 7. What important event does Ratched miss in the voting? What trick does she pull? Why might the men have trusted her before? Why don’t they now? 8. What happens to her when the men watch TV? How is that “the truth, even if it never happened.” |
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Writing |
How is MacMurphy’s successful rebellion different from the Savages, Jerry Renault’s or Winston’s? |
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest; 129-173
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Introduction |
Part II of the novel begins with the problems of rule. Nurse Ratched works to regain the control she has lost, while McMurphy becomes a full fledged insurrectionist |
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Up Close |
This novel includes many women who work at “emasculating” men. Find one or two paragraphs of a man getting emasculated and mark it. |
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Questions |
Answer the following questions fully. Use another sheet of paper. 1. What does the Chief remember happening at the staff meeting? What was his role? 2. Is Mack "A Napoleon, a Genghis Khan, an Attilla the Hun." Explain. Who were those men? What did they do? 3. How does Ratched manipulate the meeting without saying anything? What does that say about the other Doctors? 4. Complete the quote: "He isn't extraordinary. He is ____________." Is that a positive or negative statement? What would be extraordinary? In Nurse Ratched’s eyes, would Santiago be extraordinary? 5. What is her final ace in the hole-or Ratched’s ultimate power of McMurphy? |
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Cuckoo’s Nest, Continued
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6. What is the importance of the Dog and the Geese to Chief? Where does he see them? Why is that important? How is the Chief similar to John the Savage? 7. What does Mack learn at the pool?
8. Complete the quote: “Damned if he does, ________________” How does that apply to Sefelt? What does the medicine do to them? How does it apply to McMurphy? How is it true for every man on the ward? 9. How are Ratched and Mrs. Harding similar? What does Mrs. Harding do to her husband? 10. How has Mack changed? What has changed him? Is he thinking for himself or for others? 11. What are two examples of foreshadowing in this chapter? |
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Cuckoo’s Nest, Continued
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12. Why do the voluntarys stay at the ward?
13. What are the thoughts the Chief sees running through his mind?
14. What does the broken glass portend? What power does Mack have over Ratched? What power does Ratched have over Mack? |
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Writing |
Cast your mind back to the beginning of the unit. Who is Mack more similar to Malcolm X or Martin Luther King? |
One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest; 174-190
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Introduction |
One section ends, another begins. Self-sacrifice and healing become the guiding force in MacMurphy’s life. Ratched, however, gets the machine going again. |
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Up Close |
MacMurphy works hard at giving the men their “manhoods” back. Find a passage where the men are becoming whole again. |
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Questions |
Answer the following questions fully. Use another sheet of paper. 1. What does MacMurphy do, now that he has more power? What is the advantage, for MacMurphy, in not having the glass? 3. How is Basketball good therapy for the inmates? What does it force them to do? How is it different from the talks? How is it different from Trinity High Football? How is it different from Two Minutes Hate? 4. How did the Chief become deaf? Why is he getting his hearing back? 5. What are the first words the Chief says? What does that show about Mack? How has mach changed since the first chapter? |
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Cuckoo’s Nest, Continued
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6. How does Mack get the Chief to laugh? Why is laughter powerful? What is happening to the Ward? Who laughed in The Chocolate War? What happened to him? 7. How is Mack bigger than the Chief? Who else had that same size? How big is Santiago? How big is Bernard? 8. How does the Chief explain the Combine? 9. Why does he want to touch Mack? 10. How is Mack going to blow the Chief up to full-size? Why? |
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Writing |
Imagine what would happen if Santiago were put into the ward? What would happen if Lenina were put into the ward? |
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest; 190-218
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Introduction |
MacMurphy begins to get paired with Christ and, humorously, Santiago. The men are pulled from the Combine and dropped into the ocean. |
Up Close
Continued on next pageCuckoo’s nest, Continued
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Questions |
Read the pages above and answer the following questions. Use another sheet of paper. 1. How are McMurphy and the whore similar? How do they both feel about their sexuality? 2. What does she do to get the men going? How does she start short-circuiting the machine? What is the goal of the Combine? 3. Who is more powerful: Candy or Ratched? Explain. 4. Why were the nuts nervous outside? Who do they have to depend on? Who else do they have to depend on? 5. What is the difference between Mack's and Doc's approach to the serviceman? Which one shows more pride? 6. How does Mack use his hands? Who else, earlier, had been impressed by this? How are Mack’s hands similar to Santiago’s 7. How many are going fishing? What is the significance of that number? |
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Cuckoo’s Nest, Continued
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8. Why does Candy gets so upset when they call her Blondie? How is her reception here different from her reception at the ward? What other names could they call her that would insult her? Why wouldn’t a wolf-whistle insult her? What does that incident show about the men? 9. Why does the Chief feel great calmness over the sea? What isn’t present out on the sea? Do you think it is because he is an Indian or more of a man? 10. How does the fishing help the men therapeutically? 11. Why won't Mack do anything in the waves? How does that help the men? 12. Complete the quote: "He won't let pain ______________ or _________________________" Explain it. What other characters could that quote apply to? 13. What does George do at the dock? What does this show about him? 14. Why is Mack tired? What has the Chief said earlier that could give you a reason for Mack’s exhaustion? |
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Writing |
How has MacMurphy given these men their manhood’s back. Explain the process. |